Category Archives: Homeowner’s Insurance

Cappuccino Insurance is headed over our state’s borders, and we’d like to introduce ourselves to our neighbors in Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington!

Do you have a second home, a vacation home, rental property, additional vehicle or “toys” (boat, motorcycle, jet-ski’s) in any of these states? Do you own a business in these areas? You can stay insured with Cappuccino Insurance and keep the same level of amazing service and coverage benefits that you’ve enjoyed in California! You may also be entitled to additional package discounts as well.

Who do you know in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada and Washington who would potentially like to increase their coverage benefits and save on their annual premiums? We consider a referral the highest compliment to our agency and as a thank you, we offer a $25 gas card (or Amazon card) to you for each referral who becomes a client. We look forward to showing them the same level of superior coverage and personal service that we strive to show each of you, everyday.

Flood is one of the exclusions on a home insurance policy. Because there is a 30 day wait period on flood insurance, you can’t wait until there’s an impending storm to up your policy. Last year California had record rains and some people were left high and dry (no pun intended).

Flood Insurance Facts

✅ Flood insurance is a separate, additional policy.

✅ Homes in a high risk flood zone can be as inexpensive as a few hundred dollars. (Those in “high risk” areas likely already have flood insurance as the mortgage lender requires it).

✅ Flood insurance includes building (it will repair the damage) and losses.

✅ Although home insurance will cover some types of flooding, it will not cover water that comes from the outside in, which is bad news for owners with sloping yards, clogged drains, or areas that can pool water.

✅ Flood insurance also covers water back up through drains. (This is important because although some home insurance policies do cover “back ups,” up to $5000, you will not have to file a claim through your home insurance).

Contact Cappuccino Insurance for more information on Flood Insurance and other policies for your home, business, and automobiles.

More homeowners are connecting with sites like Airbnb to rent out a room or their entire house for extra income, but before taking the rental plunge, homeowners need be aware of the risks involved and how their homeowner’s insurance is affected in such enterprises.

Renting on sites like Airbnb can bring potential income but can also come with a whole host of problems. According to one Airbnb host, “There’s one risk that’s even more expensive than vacancy: destruction. If your guest trashes your home, you could (theoretically) lose tens of thousands…”

Horror stories abound, like the story of one Californian women who was left holding the bag for thousands of dollars in legal fees when one guest refused to leave and refused to pay. And according to The New York Times, while Airbnb does come with insurance “for hosts with every stay, the policy has numerous exclusions, and Airbnb requires a host to file a claim within 14 days of a guest’s departure, or before a subsequent guest arrives, whichever is sooner.”

It’s not just damages and potential legal fees that homeowners need to mitigate risks for but liability coverage as well.

Homeowner’s insurance comes with personal liability, which is designated for residential, but by renting the home on Airbnb, the home has become a business. Also a regular home insurance policy won’t cover theft or vandalism caused by renters. Perhaps most poignantly, if the insurer discovers that the home is being rented out on Airbnb or a similar service they may drop the policy and claims might be denied.

To mitigate risks, and not get dropped by their homeowner’s policy, people that are renting their homes out on Airbnb need a special policy: short-term vacation rental insurance. At Cappuccino Insurance, we work with several companies that offer short-term vacation rental insurance. Cost varies by size of home and how much coverage you desire. Please contact us to learn more.

The holidays and New Year’s celebrations are a time of travel and festivities. And while we hope that the holidays are a time of celebration, nothing could be more devastating during this time than a home break-in or an unexpected accident.

Forward your mail and ask a neighbor to collect mailers and newspapers that may otherwise accumulate at your front door.

Install motion censored lights on the exterior of the house.

Put interior lights on timers that light at varied times.

Consider installing security cameras near the doors and in various parts of the home to monitor activity.

Holiday Party Tips and Precautions

Entertaining guests at your home for the holidays? As alcohol is typically served at holiday gatherings, Indiana.edu offers a number of helpful suggestions for pacing the drinking at your home soiree.

Most notably, don’t allow intoxicated guests to drive home. In recent years apps like Lyft and Uber have grown in popularity so that they are readily available in major cities (and many suburbs) and are ready for pickup in minutes. On your party invitations and correspondences, suggest that your guests download the app on their smart phones pre-party. Also have the number for the local taxi service on-hand.

A Homeowners Policy and Rental Insurance Offer Peace of Mind

Both a homeowners policy and renters insurance can help you cover your property and possessions if they are damaged or destroyed – or if your valuables are stolen.

Additionally these policies can cover your assets if you are sued for negligence that caused an accident.

At Cappuccino Insurance wish you happy holidays and a happy new year. If you have questions about your coverage, please contact us!

A dog is known as man’s best friend for a reason, but as dog owners know, owning a dog is accompanied by many expenses and responsibilities. When people pick out their perfect companion they might not have homeowner’s insurance on the mind, but if you own a home, having coverage and being proactive about your liabilities is a priority.

The type of breed you have, your dog’s personal history, and the insurance company who covers you are all factors in what type of coverage you can have, but some dog owners may not be eligible for coverage at all.

What owning specific breeds means for your homeowner’s policy

If you have a dog on that list you need to pay more attention to your policy. This list can vary state by state and by insurance company, so it’s best to consult with your agent and pay attention to the language in your policy.

It’s important to stress that if you have one of those breeds and don’t report it to your agent, your insurance will be dropped.

If you have a dog on that list, you may still be insured by some companies, but those incidents aren’t covered, yet some companies may not insure you at all. It’s best to consult with your agent and review the language in your policy.

Key Points for Dog Owners:

When signing up for homeowner’s insurance, your insurance agent has to ask if you have a dog and document the breed. Be honest.

When adding a new dog to your household, keep your agent abreast of what kind of breed it is.

The insurance agency will send out an inspector to your property to verify the breed.

Make sure your policy provides coverage for that dog breed.

Pay attention to the language in the policy.

If your dog has a personal history of biting and/or a bite claim, then no company will insure you.

In terms of dog ownership and pet ownership, honesty is the best policy. Also is being proactive about your pet ownership.